Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2006-07: This was Louis Leblanc’s first season with the Lac St. Louis Lions (AAA Minor Midget), a 40 game campaign that resulted in 49 points (31g+18a).

2007-08: In 43 games with the Lac St. Louis Lions (AAA Minor Midget), Leblanc netted 54 goals and 91 points, which nearly doubled his output from last season.

2008-09: This was Leblanc’s first season with the Omaha Lancers (USHL), a 60 game campaign that resulted in 28 goals and 59 points. He also racked up 78 penalty minutes and was named the league’s Rookie of the Year and received an All-Rookie Team nod. Expect to see the new Hab prospect with the Harvard Crimson (CCHA) next season. Leblanc was chosen in the first round, 18th overall, of the 2009 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens.

2011-12: Leblanc finally played his first professional game on October 27th, after starting the season on the injured reserve list while recovering from shoulder surgery. The young rookie forward scored four goals along with six assists in 14 AHL games before being recalled by the Canadiens to replace a suspended Max Pacioretty. He saw extensive time in Montreal, scoring five goals along five assists and a good plus three rating in 42 NHL games. During his times in Hamilton, he scored 11 goals (two on the power play) with 11 assists and an okay minus 10 rating in 31 AHL games for a weak Bulldogs’ team.

2012-13: Leblanc spent the entire season in the AHL after playing 42 games with Montreal the previous year. In 62 games with Hamilton he scored 10 goals with 8 assists and was -18 with 53 penalty minutes. The Bulldogs missed the AHL playoffs after finishing last in the North Division.

2013-14: Leblanc appeared in eight games with the Canadiens during two call-ups in his third pro season — spending most of the year with Montreal AHL affiliate Hamilton. He had no points and was +1 with 4 penalty minutes, averaging 10 minutes of ice time, during his time with Montreal. Leblanc scored 13 goals with 15 assists and was -1 with 63 penalty minutes in 70 regular season games for Hamilton. The Bulldogs finished fifth in the North Division, missing the AHL playoffs. Leblanc was acquired by Anaheim from the Canadiens in June 2014 in exchange for a conditional draft pick and re-signed by the Ducks to a one-year contract as a restricted free agent.

2014-15: Leblanc skated for Anaheim AHL affiliate Norfolk in his fourth pro season. He scored 14 goals with 15 assists and was -19 with 38 penalty minutes in 71 regular season games. The Admirals missed the AHL playoffs, finishing last in the East Division. Leblanc was signed to a one-year contract by the Islanders as an unrestricted free agent in July 2015.

Talent Analysis

Leblanc has the hockey smarts, the physical grit and versatility to play on the wing or at center. Expected to be a consistent scorer coming out of junior hockey, his game has become more that of a two-way forward. He has been effective at the AHL level but his skating speed has limited his productivity during the time he has spent in the NHL.

Future

Leblanc was signed by the Islanders as an unrestricted free agent in July 2015 and will attend his first training camp with New York. The 18th player taken in the 2009 NHL Draft, he has spent most of his four-year pro career in the AHL and barring any surprises or injuries will start the 2015-16 season with Islanders' affiliate Bridgeport. Leblanc has some skill to his game but at this point is considered a two-way forward rather than a dangerous scorer.